diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_init.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_init.c
index ff61ae34ecdf..e497a44aff88 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_init.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_drv_init.c
@@ -931,7 +931,6 @@ static int ath9k_init_device(struct ath9k_htc_priv *priv,
 int ath9k_htc_probe_device(struct htc_target *htc_handle, struct device *dev,
 			   u16 devid, char *product, u32 drv_info)
 {
-	struct hif_device_usb *hif_dev;
 	struct ath9k_htc_priv *priv;
 	struct ieee80211_hw *hw;
 	int ret;
@@ -969,10 +968,11 @@ int ath9k_htc_probe_device(struct htc_target *htc_handle, struct device *dev,
 
 err_init:
 	ath9k_stop_wmi(priv);
-	hif_dev = (struct hif_device_usb *)htc_handle->hif_dev;
-	ath9k_hif_usb_dealloc_urbs(hif_dev);
+	ath9k_hif_usb_dealloc_urbs((struct hif_device_usb *)htc_handle->hif_dev);
 	ath9k_destroy_wmi(priv);
 err_free:
+	ath9k_hif_usb_dealloc_urbs((struct hif_device_usb *)htc_handle->hif_dev);
+	htc_handle->drv_priv = NULL;
 	ieee80211_free_hw(hw);
 	return ret;
 }
diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_hst.c b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_hst.c
index 994ec48b2f66..d461eca389ab 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_hst.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/htc_hst.c
@@ -468,6 +468,9 @@ void ath9k_htc_rx_msg(struct htc_target *htc_handle,
 	}
 }
 
+/* A dummy object used until device is initialized. */
+static struct ath9k_htc_priv ath9k_uninitialized_htc_priv;
+
 struct htc_target *ath9k_htc_hw_alloc(void *hif_handle,
 				      struct ath9k_htc_hif *hif,
 				      struct device *dev)
@@ -493,6 +496,8 @@ struct htc_target *ath9k_htc_hw_alloc(void *hif_handle,
 
 	atomic_set(&target->tgt_ready, 0);
 
+	target->drv_priv = &ath9k_uninitialized_htc_priv;
+
 	return target;
 }